Arrest of militant sparks retaliation, Gaza on edge

GAZA, Dec 14 (Reuters) Palestinian security agents arrested a militant in Gaza today in connection with the killing of three schoolboys, prompting his group to kidnap a security officer in retaliation.

The tit-for-tat seizures increased the threat of more widespread violence and even civil war between the well-armed Hamas and Fatah factions in Gaza where tensions are nearing boiling point.

Officers from the General Intelligence unit, a force that is allied to President Mahmoud Abbas, arrested Hisham Mukhaimar, amember of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), following a gun battle at his home in Gaza City, witnesses said.

A Palestinian security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the arrest was linked to an investigation into the killing on Monday of three young brothers whose father is an intelligence official loyal to Abbas.

General Intelligence, a high-powered unit which rarely arrests members of militant groups, would not comment.

Fatah has blamed Hamas for the deaths of the three boys, all aged under ten, who were shot as they were being dropped off at school by car. Hamas denies involvement.

Hours after Mukhaimar's seizure, the PRC said they had seized a General Intelligence operative in retaliation and would not release him until Mukhaimar was freed.

''We have telephoned senior officials in General Intelligence and told them we reject the kidnapping of our member,'' said Abu Abir, a spokesman for the PRC.

''General Intelligence did not follow the legal procedures in his arrest. As long as our member remains kidnapped, any intelligence officer will be a target for PRC kidnapping.'' In apparent retaliation yesterday for the boys' deaths, a Hamas judge who was also a member of the group's armed wing was shot dead in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.

Hamas, an Islamic militant group, formed the Palestinian government in March after heavily defeating Fatah in elections.

There has been a steadily intensifying power struggle between the two ever since despite attempts by Abbas, who heads Fatah, and senior Hamas officials to form a unity government.

MASS RALLY In a sign of how sensitive relations between the two groups have become, not just in Gaza but in the West Bank where Fatah is dominant, Hamas cancelled a West Bank rally today to mark the anniversary of its founding.

''We decided to postpone our rally because we want to avoid any possible friction with Fatah people,'' said a senior Hamas official in Ramallah, the main city in the West Bank.

Before the rally could start, Fatah activists blocked off the area with plastic chairs. Security officials loyal to Abbas were also out on the streets of downtown Ramallah in large numbers in an apparent show of force against Hamas.

The rally, to mark the 19th anniversary since Hamas was formed by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in Gaza, is now scheduled for Friday, Hamas officials said.

A linked rally will take place in Gaza at the same time, and Palestinian Prime Minister and senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh are expected to address the crowd.

That will be regarded as a challenge to Fatah because Abbas is expected to make a major speech in Ramallah on Saturday, possibly calling for new elections if efforts to form a unity government with Hamas continue to fail.

Hamas, which is officially sworn to Israel's destruction, is regarded as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and European Union, which have imposed financial sanctions against it in an effort to force the collapse of its administration.

REUTERS BDP KN1820